THE  LADY  LIEUTENANT 


"  Litting  me  as  if  I  were  but  a  child,  he  rushed  to  the  edge  of  the  housetop  ;  and 
then — horror  of  horrors  !  I  comprehended  his  diabolical  intention  to  cast  me  over 
the  parapet  and  dash  my  brains  out  upon  the  pavement  below."     Page  30. 

PHILADELPHIA : 
PUBLISHED  BY  BARCLAY  &  CO..  No.  56  NORTH  SIXTH  STREET. 

1862. 


# 


M  -'-• 


"  Lifting  me  as  if  I  were  but  a  child,  he  ruslied  to  tlie  edge  of  the  housetop  ;  and 
tlicn — liorror  of  horrors  !  I  comprehended  liis  diiibolical  intention  to  cast  me  over 
llie  parapet  and  duth  my  brains  out  upon  the  pavement  below."     Page  30. 


THE 


LADT  LIEUTENANT. 


A  MDiRFtL  wmii  in  mill 

OF  THE 
OF 

MISS  MADELINE  MOORE, 


TTIio,  In  order  to  be  near  her  lover,  joined  tlie  Army,  'VFsaS 

elected    Lieutenant,  and  fouprtat  in  l¥estern  Virginia 

under  tlie  renoi^ned  C^eneral  McClelian ;  and  af- 

ter%«'ards  at  tlie  Great  Battle  of  Bull's  Run. 


HER  OWN  AND  HER  LOVER'S 

Perilous  Adventures  and  Hair-Breadth  Escapes 

ARE  HEREIN  GRAPHICALLY  DELINEATED. 
The  reader  may  rely  upon  this  narrative  as  being  strictly  authentic. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

PUBLISHED  BY  BARCLAY  &  CO.,  No.  56  NORTH  SIXTH  STREET. 

1862. 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Congresi  in  the  year  1862,  by 

BARCLAY    k    CO., 
In  tlie  Clerk'     Office  of  the  Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


THE  LADY  LIEUTENANT. 


In  giving  you,  reader,  an  account  of  the  wonderful  adventures 
through  which  it  has  been  my  fortune  to  pass,  it  will  not  be  necessary 
for  me  to  dwell  upon  my  early  history.  Let  it  suffice,  therefore, 
when  I  tell  you  that  I  was  boru  in  chivalrous  old  Kentucky,  in  the 
city  of  Frankfort,  some  twenty  years  ago,  and  that  I  received,  in 
early  life,  a  good  education.  My  mother  died  when  I  was  young, 
and  my  father  some  years  since,  leaving  me,  an  only  daugter,  heir 
to  quite  a  handsome  property.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  I  fell  in  love, 
as  the  saying  is,  with  one  Francis  Ashton,  a  noble  youth,  about  two 
years  my  senior,  then  a  student  at  Law,  in  Frankfort.  Frank  was 
of  a  good  family,  and  his  father  possessed  a  small  property  ;  but, 
there  being  some  five  or  six  to  come  in  as  heirs,  left  his  portion  too 
small  to  be  of  any  account,  other  than  to  assist  him  in  the  acquire- 
laent  of  his  profession. 

Ca4  tms  did  not  matter  with  me,  for  I  was  not  one  to  make  money 
a  god.  Young,  ardent,  and  rather  romantic,  1  was  just  the  person 
to  be  pleased  with  such  a  noble  young  fellow  as  Frank  ;  and,  I  boldly 
make  the  confession  to  you,  reader,  I  gave  him  my  whole  heart, 
undivided — for,  save  him,  I  had  no  friend  I  cared  to  love.  'Tis 
true,  I  had  an  aunt,  who  assumed  a  sort  of  guardianship  over  me, 
and  with  whom  I  lived ;  though  it  must  be  confessed,  not  altogether 
on  the  most  friendly  terms.  She  was  one  of  those  Avomen  who  can 
be  described'by  no  other  term  than  a  "hypocritical  blue-stocking  ;" 
by  which  I  mean  to  say,  she  attended  church  regularly  every  Sunday, 
paid  the  preacher  punctually,  gave  largely  to  such  charitable  societies 
as  were  likely  to  blazon  her  name  to  the  public,  always  carried  a 
long,  sanctimonious  face,  read  her  prayers  loudly  and  boldly,  and 
really  passed  for  what  she  was  not — a  most  exemplary  christian ; 
for  in  private  life  she  was  cross,  crabbed  and  tyranical,  would  not 
give  a  beggar  a  crust  of  bread  to  save  him  from  starvation,    and 

13 


525:232 


14  Frank's  Visits  at  the  Mansion. — His  Repulse. 

toward  me  she  behaved  -with  a  vindictive  boldness,  that,  had  I  ever 
been  brought  to  love  her,  Avould  have  alienated  my  affection.  Of 
course  we  did  not  agree ;  for,  as  I  said  before,  my  temperament  is 
quick  and  ardent,  and  having  been  allowed  to  have  my  own  way 
when  young  and  with  my  father,  I  could  not  bear  dictation  and  re- 
straint from  one  no  nearer  related. 

She  knew  I  hated  her,  if  I  must  use  so  harsh  a  term  to  express 
the  state  of  my  feelings  toward  her  ;  and  she  took  good  care  that  I 
should  never  have  occasion  to  change  my  sentiments.  She  not  only 
vented  her  spite  on  mo,  but  on  all  who  seemed  to  like  me ;  and 
among  the  rest  Frank  Ashton  came  in  for  his  share  of  her  ill-humor. 
For  a  time  she  permitted  his  visits  to  the  house  with  only  grumbling 
and  cold  looks ;  but  finding  he  cared  little  or  nothing  for  these,  she 
at  last  resorted  to  the  bolder  measure  of  telling  him  his  presence 
was  not  desired  in  her  house  ;  and  as  this  did  not  prevent  his  coming, 
she  finally  declared  that  if  he  darkened  her  doors  again  with  his 
presence,  she  would  order  her  negro  servant  to  drive  him  forth. 
He  did  not  wish  to  quarrel  with  her,  and  so  came  no  more ;  but  this 
did  not  prevent  our  meeting ;  for  the  grounds  surrounding  my  aunt's 
mansion  were  large  and  heavily  shaded ;  and  we  met  there  in  the 
still  hours  of  night  and  exchanged  sweet  words,  rendered  still  sweeter 
by  the  romantic  charm  thrown  around  them  of  being  stolen  inter- 
views. 

I  mention  these  things  to  show  how  unpleasant  was  my  Jiome,  and 
what  strong  inducements  I  therefore  had  for  leaving  it  on  the  de- 
parture of  my  lover.  That  Frank  loved  me  as  ardently  and  devotedly 
as  I  did  him,  I  have  never  so  much  as  doubted ;  but  he  was  a  very 
high-spirited  young  fellow,  and,  knowing  himself  to  be  compara- 
tively poor,  could  not  bear  the  idea  of  allying  himself  with  one  so 
wealthy  as  myself  lest  people  should  say  he  married  for  money ; 
and  therefore  he  said  we  must  wait  until  his  course  of  study  should 
be  completed,  and  he  should  be  able  to  earn  a  living  by  his  profession, 
which  he  sincerely  hoped  and  trusted  would  not  be  long. 

In  reply  I  told  him  that  I  was  one  M'ho  did  not  care  for  t-he 
opinions  of  the  world ;  that  the  money  I  had  was  of  no  use  to  me, 
beyond  the  pleasure  derived  from  making  those  I  loved  happy  by  it ; 
that  I  would  rather  have  it  sunk  in  the  ocean  than  that  my  crabbed, 
eanctimonious  old  aunt  should  touch  a  cent  of  it;  and  that  he  of 
all  others  was  most  welcome  to  it ;  and,  I  added,  there  were  the 
very  fewest  number  of  young  men  who  would  refuse  to  take  it  under 
the  peculiar  circumstances  in  which  we  both  were  placed.  Eut  all 
my  reasoning  would  not  do  away  with  his  scruples ;  and  he  solemnly 
averred  that,  as  much  as  he  loved  me,  he  would  rather  we  should 
never  Aved,  than  while  he  was  dependant  on  my  gifts,  though  they 
might  be  ever  so  freely  and  cordially  given. 

Thus  matters  stood  between  us  when  the  news  reached  our  neigh- 


m 


Frank  forms  a  Regiment  of  Volunteers  in  Kentucky.  15 

borhood  of  the  bombardment  and  fall  of  Fort  Sumter,  and  shortly 
following  the  proclamation  of  the  President,  calling  for  volunteers 
from  the  diflferent  States  for  the  defence  of  the  Capital.  It  will 
doubtless  be  remembered  by  the  reader  that  the  Governor  of  our 
State  refused  to  furnish  troops  from  Kentucky. 

Scarcely  had  the  first  excitement,  occasioned  by  this  refusal  to 
afford  Kentuckians  an  opportunity  of  adding  now  laurels  to  the  un- 
fading wreaths  that  still  decked  their  brows,  died  away,  when  it  was 
secretly  reported  that  there  was  already  a  regiment  forming  for  the 
ostensible  purpose  of  constituting  a  Home  Guard,  but  the  real 
design  of  which  was  to  offer  to  the  Government  at  Washington  its 
aid  in' the  suppression  of  the  rebellion  and  the  restoration  of  peace. 

Now,  when  a  project  of  this  kind  was  once  set  on  foot,  or  even 
canvassed  freely  in  the  public  prints  and  private  circles,  there  is  no 
spot  under  heaven  where  more  true  valorous  enthusiasm  prevailed 
than  in  the  hot-mettled  youths  of  chivalrous  old  Kentucky.  Ever 
ready  for  love  or  war,  it  hardly  needs  a  hint  that  their  services  are 
required  in  either  quarter  to  bring  them  upon  the  ground  of  action, 
ready  to  do  their  duty  like  the  gallant,  noble  fellows  they  are. 

Among  the  foremost  in  getting  up  this  regiment  was  Francis 
Ashton ;  and  so  secretly  did  he  operate,  that  I,  who  believed  I  knew 
his  very  thoughts  would  hardly  credit  the  assertion,  when  he  came 
one  night,  and  said  it  was  to  bid  me  farewell,  that  he  was  going 
away,  and  it  was,  of  course,  uncertain  if  ever  he  should  return  ; 
but  that  if  he  did,  he  should  come  back  with  a  name  so  coupled  with 
deeds  of  daring  and  renown  as  to  overcome  his  delicate  scruples  to 
our  union. 

"  Good  heavens  !  Frank,"  I  exclaimed  in  breathless  astonishment, 
"  whither  are  you  going  ?  But  then,  I  know,  you  are  not  in  earnest." 

*'  Indeed,  my  dear  Madeline,  do  not  mistake  me — I  was  never 
more  in  earnest  in  my  life,"  he  replied,  with  a  sigh. 

*•  But  why  are  you  going  ?" 

*'  Because  my  country  calls." 

"  Frank,"  I  rejoined  imploringly,  "  do  not  leave  me.  Think  how 
lonely  and  how  friendless  I  shill  be  when  you  are  gone.  Think  of 
the  anxiety  I  shall  feel  and  the  anguish  I  shall  suffer  when  the 
tidings  of  a  battle  reaches  me.  For  days  and  perhaps  weeks  I  may 
not  know  your  fate.  Besides  there  are  many  willing  and  anxious 
to  take  your  place,  those  who  have  no  such  tender  ties  to  bind  them 
to  home  as  you  have." 

He  threw  his  arms  affectionately  around  my  neck,  pressed  a 
burning  kiss  upon  my  lips,  and  answered : — 

"  Nay,  dearest,  nay,  do  not  urge  me  to  desert  my  companions  in 
this  cause,  or  to  refuse  my  humble  aid  to  our  country  when  most  sha 
needs  the  brave  hearts  and  strong  arms  of  her  children  to  crush  in 
its  infancy  this  hydra-headed  rebellion." 


16     Madeline  TRIES  to  Weep. — Frank's  Disappointment. 

He  further  said,  that  he  "was  to  hold  the  rank  of  captain,  and 
four  others,  ■whom  he  mentioned,  would  all  be  officers,  one  of  whom, 

by  the  name  of ,  a  gentleman  wlio  had  fought  with  signal 

success  in  the  Mexican  war,  was  to  be  colonel. 

In  vain  I  tried  to  dissuade  him  from  his  purpose ;  he  said  his 
mind  was  made  up,  and  more  than  this,  his  word  was  pledged,  and 
he  would  not  retract  his  engagement. 

It  would  be  impossible  for  me  to  portray  my  feelings  when  I  found 
he  was  unshaken  in  his  resolve  to  go  and  leave  me.  I  felt  lonely 
and  almost  heart-broken ;  but  suddenly  a  new  idea  flashed  across 
my  mind,  and  my  spirits  regained  their  wonted  buoyancy.  Frank 
noticed  the  change,  but  did  not  know  the  cause  ;  and  he  seemed 
hurt  at  the  thought  that  I  could  bear  the  separation  with  so  much 
firmness,  not  to  say  indifference. 

Madeline,"  he  said  in  tremulous  tones,  as  he  held  my  hand  for 
the  final  adieu,  "  Madeline,  do  you  indeed  love  me  ?" 

"  Can  you  doubt  it,  Frank?"  was  my  interogaiive  reply. 

"I  do  not  know — I  never  doubted  it  till  now,"  he  said;  "but 
somehow  it  seems  as  if  this  parting  comes  easier  to  you  than  to  me." 

"I  am  striving  to  keep  up  my  spirits,"  I  rejoined,  "  that,  since 
you  are  resolved  to  go,  my  foolish  complainings  and  tears  may  not 
unman  you,  and  make  you  regret  the  step  you  have  taken." 

"  Still,"  he  said,  "I  think  I  could  go  better  satisfied  could  I  see 
you  weep."  * 

I  tried  to  weep  to  pacify  him  ;  but,  for  my  life,  1  could  not  start 
a  tear,  OAving  to  the  rapturous  delight  I  felt  in  anticipating  the 
result  of  my  new  scheme.  But  I  covered  my  eyes,  and  forced  a 
few  sobs,  and  in  broken  sentences  and  faint  tones  asked  him  when 
he  was  to  go,  and  how,  and  if  any  more  were  going  than  just  the 
number  he  had  mentioned." 

"  We  leave  two  days  from  to-night,"  he  said,  "  on  a  steamer, 
which  is  now  lying  at  the  wharf  in  Cincinnati,  but  which  will  land 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  at  a  place  called  Covington,  to 
take  us  aboard  some  time  between  dark  and  ten  o'clock.  As  to 
others,  we  want  all  we  can  get ;  and,  doubtless,  shall  pick  up  a  good 
many  volunteers  on  our  way  thither,  and  at  the  place  of  starting. 
We  officers  are  to  set  out  to-night  by  ourselves,  and  the  men  will 
follow  alone,  or  in  companies,  as  they  choose,  to  the  place  of  em- 
barkation, where  we  shall  all  be  united  again." 

Some  other  conversation  passed,  unnecessary  for  me  to  detail, 
and  then  he  clasped  me  almost  convulsively  to  his  heart,  again  and 
again  he  pressed  his  lips  to  mine,  and  parted  from  me  with  eyes  dim 
with  tears,  and  a  heavy  heart. 

The  moment  he  was  fairly  out  of  sight,  I  hurried  back  to  the 
mansion,  and  calling  my  own  faithful  servant,  bade  her  run  and  tell 
Mary  Angiers,  an  intimate  friend  of  mine  that  I  wished  to  see  hev 
immediately. 


Madeline  in  Male  Attire. — Prepares  to  follow  Frank.  17 

The  moment  she  came,  I  fle'W  to  her  and  kissed  het,  and  laugh- 
ingly told  her  that  I  intended  to  play  a  great  joke  upon  my  aunt, 
and  that  I  wanted  her  assistance,  which  she  readily  accorded.  I 
then  gave  her  a  purse,  and  bade  her  purchase  me  a  complete  suit  of 
male  attire,  with  a  small  pair  of  whiskers  and  moustache,  which  she 
well  knew  where  to  get — for  being  a  little  de'il  in  ber  own  way,  she 
had  more  than  once  had  such  things  on  to  personate  a  dandy  cox- 
comb of  our  acquaintance,  to  the  great  amusement  of  her  fi'iends. 
She  was  delighted  at  the  idea  of  seeing  me  in  male  attire,  and 
bounded  away  with  a  laugh  to  execute  her  commission.  She  pro- 
cured the  articles  through  the  negro  servant,  and  brought  them  to 
me  in  the  course  of  an  hour.  I  tried  them  on,  and  to  my  great 
delight  found  they  fitted  exactly ;  and  with  the  whiskers  and 
moustache  on,  and  my  hair  cut  short,  (for  against  Mary's  persuasions 
I  insisted  it  should  be  done,)  she  said  I  was  so  altered  that  had  she 
not  seen  me  dress,  she  would  never  mistrust  it  to  be  me  ;  and  declared 
that  I  might  visit  my  aunt,  and  talk  her  blind,  without  her  being 
the  wiser  as  to  whom  was  her  guest.  I  looked  in  the  glass,  and  must 
say  I  fell  in  love  with  myself — that  is,  I  should  have  been  apt  to 
take  a  fancy  to  just  such  a  youth  as  I  appeared  to  be.  I  seemed 
not  more  than  sixteen  ;  though  this  age  w^as  denied  by  my  whiskers, 
which  made  me  out  at  least  eight  or  ten  years  older ;  but  then  I 
reasoned  that  some  men,  even  with  whiskers,  have  a  very  youthful 
look,  and  I  doubted  not  I  should  escape  detection. 

It  was  now  about  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  I  determined 
to  leave  Frankfort  that  very  night.  Accordingly  I  collected  my 
money  and  jewelry  together,  the  former  consisting  of  about  two 
hundred  dollars  in  gold,  which  I  had  drawn  from  the  bank  for 
another  purpose,  and  the  latter  of  diamond  rings,  breastpins,  brace- 
lets, chains,  &c.,  &c.,  worth,  in  the  aggregate,  from  fifteen  hundred 
to  two  thousand  dollars  more.  These  I  put  in  my  various  pockets, 
and  then  prepared  to  bid  farewell  to  my  late  residence,  (I  will  not 
again  call  it  by  such  a  misnomer  as  home,)  which  I  might  now  be 
beholding  for  the  last  time.  Tears  involuntarily  started  to  my  eyes 
as  I  looked  around  me — not  that  I  had  any  regrets  about  leaving 
my  aunt,  but  I  was  to  leave  scenes  that  had  become  dear  to  me  from 
other  associations — and  until  we  are  called  upon  to  take  a  final  adieu 
we  know  not  how  closely  around  the  heart  are  entwined  the  scenes 
that  otherwise  we  might  think  of  little  account. 

But  my  parting  with  Mary  was  the  most  trying ;  for  she,  poor, 
confiding  creature,  little  dreamed  there  was  any  thing  more  serious 
than  a  girlish  freak  of  an  hour  or  two's  duration  in  what  I  was 
about  to  do ;  and  I  dared  not  tell  her  the  contrary ;  for  rather  than 
loose  me,  she  would  have  beti-ayed  my  plot,  and  so  put  an  end  to 
my  adventure.  I  therefore  merely  kissed  her,  apparently  with  a 
light  heart,  though  I  felt  as  if  I  would  sink,  and  said,  with  a  gaiety 


18  Departure  for  Cincinnati. — The  Stranger. 

wholly  forced,  that  she  might  go  home  and  happen  over  the  first 
thing  in  the  morning,  and  she  Avould  see  what  would  furnish  her 
food  for  laughter  the  remainder  of  the  day.  She  believed  me  and 
in  parting  said — 

"  Madeline,  dear,  be  sure  and  do  it  right." 

"I  shall,  never  fear,"  was  my  reply. 

"  But  whither  go  you  to-night  ?" 

"I  will  not  tell  you,"  I  replied,  gaily,  "as  that  is  a  part  of  my 
secret  and  surprise ;  but  come  in  the  morning  and  you  shall  know  all." 

"But  your  aunt,  Madeline — will  she  not  miss  you?" 

"  No ;  she  does  not  care  enough  for  me  to  look  into  my  room, 
and  she  will  believe  I  am  there." 

"  Well,  adios  !  and  success  to  your  project,"  said  the  fair  creature, 
bounding  out  of  the  room  and  down  stairs. 

"  Amen  !"  prayed  I. 

As  soon  as  Mary  had  gone  I  extinguished  the  light,  and  stole 
softly  from  my  room,  and  reached  the  shrubbery  unperceived.  I 
then  glided  down  to  the  lower  end  of  the  park,  and  passed  out 
through  the  wicket-gate  into  a  by-lane,  which  I  threaded  with  great 
rapidity.  I  knew  where  there  was  an  excellent  livery  stable,  and 
to  this  I  repaired  and  procured  a  horse  and  buggy,  with  a  driver,  to 
take  me  to  the  nearest  railway  station,  and  the  next  night  I  found 
myself  in  Cincinnati.  I  immediately  made  inquiries  if  a  boat 
answering  the  description  of  the  one  mentioned  by  Frank  lay  at 
*he  wharf;  and  to  my  great  delight  was  answered  in  the  affirmative, 
but  that  it  was  believed  she  would  go  out  on  the  morrow  at  four 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  with  a  crowd  of  passengers  bound  for 
Wheeling,  Va. ;  and  then  my  informant  concluded  by  asking  me  if 
I  knew  any  one  on  board  or  who  intended  going  out  in  her. 

"No  one,"  I  replied;  "but  having  before  heard  her  destination 
mentioned,  I  have  some  thoughts  of  taking  passage  in  her  myself." 

The  stranger  eyed  me  a  little  curiously,  I  thought,  and  then  re- 
joined that  if  I  did  I  should  be  doing  exactly  what  he  had  that  day 
done  himself;  and  that  if  I  liked,  he  would  accompany  me  to  the 
boat  at  once  and  introduce  me  to  the  officers,  whom  he  represented 
as  perfect  gentlemen. 

"But,  perhaps,"  he  said,  "you  would  like  to  join  the  company 
now  preparing  to  go  out,  in  which  case  you  will  have  your  passage 
paid  and  wages  allowed  you  from  the  moment  you  enter  the  service." 

"The  very  thing!"  I  replied,  more  and  more  delighted;  and  he 
accompanied  me  to  the  boat  where  I  was  introduced  to  the  captain, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  every  thing  was  arranged  to  my  satisfaction. 

The  next  day,  which  was  Sunday,  in  company  with  more  than  a 
hundred  others,  I  took  up.  my  quarters  on  board ;  and  in  the  evening, 
true  to  the  information  I  had  received  from  Frank,  the  boat  moved 
over  to  Covington ;  and  the  Kentucky  battalion,  headed  by  Col. , 


Madeline  Meets  her  Lover.— His  Embarrassment.     19 

came  on  board.  Among  these  I  recognized,  (with  what  feelings  I 
ieave  the  reader  to  imagine,)  my  own  dear  Frank,  holding  the 
position  of  Captain.  I  met  him  face  to  face ;  and  seeing  I  was  not 
recognized,  made  bold  to  ask  him  if  he  was  not  from  Erankfort. 
He  looked  at  me  closely,  but  still  without  any  sign  of  recognition 
and  replied  in  the  affirmative.  I  then  held  out  my  hand  and  said  I 
was  happy  to  renew  our  acquaintance ;  that  I  had  seen  him  for  a 
few  minutes  one  night  at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Stuben,  (which,  reader 
was  the  name  of  my  aunt,)  but  that  I  presumed  he  had  forgotten 


me. 


He  colored  to  the  eyes  at  the  mention  of  this  name,  and  drew  a 
deep  sigh ;  but  instantly  rallied  and  said  I  had  the  advantage  of 
him,  as,  although  my  face  did  look  familiar,  he  could  not  call  my 
name,  for  which  I  must  pardon  his  treacherous  memory, 

"My  name  is  Albert  Harville,"  I  replied;  "but  as  to  pardon, 
none  is  necessary;  for  you  did  not  see  me  but  a  few  minutes,  and 
during  that  time  were  busily  engaged  in  conversation  with  Miss 
Moore. 

Again  he  colored  deeply,  and  seemed  much  embaressed;  Mt 
finally  asked  me  if  I  ever  had  much  acquaintance  with  Miss  Madeline. 
"But  very  little,''  I  answered,  "yet  from  what  I  saw,  I  formed 
a  very  favorable  opinion  of  her.     I  claim  her  as  a  relation,"  I  pur- 
sued, "though  her  father  and  mine  were  only  cousins." 

"She  is  a  noble  girl,"  he  replied,  warmly,  "and  one  worthy  of 
the  best  man  who  lives ;  and  since  you  have  spoken  of  relationship, 
It  seems  as  if  I  could  trace  some  resemblance  between  you— enough 
at  all  events  to  cause  me  to  feel  a  deep  interest  in  your  welfare. 
Mr.  Harville,  I  hope  we  shall  be  always  friends;"  and  he  grasped 
my  hand  and  shook  it  cordially— that  hand  which  had  been  so  often 
clasped  in  his,  though  now  he  knew  it  not,  and  I  dared  not  tell  him. 
Oh !  what  strange  emotions  thrilled  me  at  that  touch !  and  how 
wildly  beat  my  poor  heart.  It  was  only  by  a  great  effort  at  self- 
control  that  I  was  prevented  from  throwing  myself  into  his  arms 
and  avowing  my  deception.  But  I  remembered  in  time  that  this 
would  ruin  all  my  hopes  of  being  his  companion  on  such  a  perilous 
undertaking,  and  I  restrained  the  desire. 

I  shall  give  no  detail  of  our  progress  up  the  river;  for  events  of 
far  greater  importance  are  now  crowding  upon  my  mind — events, 
alas !  that  will  live  in  memory  until  the  day  of  death,  and  which,' 
as  I  lift  my  pen  to  record  them,  send  a  cold  shudder  through  my 
frame,  and  almost  make  me  shrink  from  the  task  with  horror.  Oh  ! 
reader,  pray  God  it  may  never  be  your  fortune  to  see  what  I  have 
seen— to  suffer  what  I  have  suffered ;  but  let  me  not  anticipate. 

In  going  up  the  river,  Frank  and  I  were  much  together ;  in  fact, 
we  might  be  considered  inseparable  companions.  He  was  ever 
talking  of  Madeline,  and,  as  he  wanted  a  confidant,  one  who  could 


20     Conversation  between  Albert  Harville  and  Frank. 

sympathize  with  him,  of  course  he  chose  mo ;  and  the  flattery  I 
received  incog,  ofttimes  made  me  blush  in  confusion  ;  but  my  blushes, 
if  he  saw  them,  he  never  attributed  to  the  right  cause.  One  day 
he  said  to  me : 

"  Albert,  do  you  know  whither  we  are  bound  ?" 

"To  Washington  City,  of  course,"  I  answered. 

He  looked  grave  and  troubled,  and  motioned  me  to  step  aside, 
as  several  of  our  men  were  within  ear-shot.  The  moment  we  were 
in  private,  he  continued  : — 

"  Albert  Harville,  I  already  love  you  as  a  brother,  and  you  must 
not  be  deceived  in  this  matter.     We  are  not  bound  for  Washington." 

I  expressed  surprise. 

"No,"  he  continued,  "we  are  bound  on  a  far  more  perilous  ex- 
pedition ;  and  it  is  proper  you  should  know  our  destination  ere  too 
late  to  turn  back,  and  then  you  can  act  as  you  see  proper.  We  are 
going  to  rescue  Western  Virginia  from  the  hands  of  the  rebels,  and 
then  raise  the  glorious  banner  of  liberty  and  protect  her  sons  in  all 
their  rights  under  the  Constitution. 

"Well,"  I  rejoined,  "  Captain  Ashton,  where  you  are  there  will 
I  be — whithersoever  you  lead  there  I  will  follow,  if  you  will  permit 
me  to  join  your  company." 

^^ By  heavens!"  he  exclaimed,  grasping  my  soft  hand  with  a 
pressure  that  pained  me ;  "  By  heavens,  you  are  a  noble  fellow ; 
and  you  shall  not  only  join  my  company,  but  I  will  use  my  influence 
to  get  you  a  commission.  There  is  a  vacancy  of  second  lieutenant, 
and  this  you  are  just  the  person  to  fill." 

I  thanked  him  warmly,  and  was  so  overcome  with  various  emotions 
that  I  had  to  weep. 

Suffice  it  to  say,  that  on  our  way  up  the  Ohio,  the  men  of  Captain 
Ashton's  company  were  called  together  and  were  addressed  by  him 
in  a  neat,  appropriate  and  enthusiastic  manner ;  and  among  other 
things  I  was  recommended  to  them  as  a  suitable  person  to  fill  the 
Tacant  office  of  second  lieutenant.  The  result  was  that  I  was 
Tinanimously  elected,  and  subsequently  received  my  commission.  I 
should  have  opposed  this  election  only  that  I  thought  that,  by  holding 
this  office  I  might  be  near  him  1  loved ;  and  it  was  possible  I  might 
.at  some  time  save  his  life. 

It  will  only  be  necessary  for  me  to  say  that  on  the  way  up  the 
-men  amused  themselves  in  playing  cards,  singing,  dancing,  telling 
Stories,  cracking  jokes,  &c.  At  every  place  we  stopped  the  people 
seemed  surprised  to  see  such  a  large  number ;  and  more  than  one 
hint  was  thrown  out  by  the  citizens  as  to  the  nature  of  our  expedi- 
tion. At  last  our  boat  landed  at  Wheeling,  and  here  we  disembarked. 
We  were  detained  several  days  before  we  could  get  away — no  pro- 
vision for  such  a  purpose  having  been  made,  owing  to  some  bad 
arrangement  among  the  leaders  of  the  expedition.      At  last  we 


The  Advance  to  Battle. — Grave  Reflections.  21 

received  orders  to  inarch,  and  soon  after  encamped  in  an  open  woods 
near  which  a  clear  cold  spring  yielded  us  an  abundant  supply  of 
•water  which  we  much  needed. 

Here  we  remained  one  day  and  then  commenced  our  march  into 
the  country  occupied  by  the  rebels.  As  yet  we  had  not  seen  Gen. 
McClellan,  who  was  expected  to  join  us  with  another  division  of  our  ar- 
my composed  of  Ohio  and  Indiana  volunteers  ;  but  in  a  few  days  we 
had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  him  come  in  sight  and  soon  after  join 
us,  taking  command.  Great  was  the  rejoicing  when  our  commander 
made  his  appearance — a  fine,  noble,  military-looking  man  who  seemed 
"fit  to  stand  by  Ceesar  and  give  directions." 

He  was  much  pleased  with  our  appearance  and  complimented  us 
very  highly,  and  a  printed  address  was  immediately  distributed 
among  us. 

We  were  now  about  to  advance  to  battle ;  and  as  we  neared  the 
place  that  might  prove  a  grave  to  many  of  us,  strange  feelings  caused 
our  hearts  to  beat  with  singular  emotion.  What  would  be  the  fate 
of  this  gallant  army,  going  nobly  forth  to  liberate  a  nation  from 
the  thraldom  of  despots  ?  Should  we  succeed,  immortal  honors 
would  be  upon  our  heads,  and  our  names  would  stand  out  in  history 
among  the  proudest.  Should  we  fail,  then  the  dungeon,  the  gibbet, 
and  death,  in  its  most  unwelcome  aspect,  would  be  our  portion. 
No  wonder  many  were  grave,  and  sad,  and  anxious,  as  these  reflec- 
tions forced  themselves  upon  us. 

The  rebel  army,  under  command  of  General  Garnett,  late  a  major 
in  the  United  States  Army,  evacuated  their  camp  in  great  haste  on 
learning  of  our  approach,  apparently  hoping  to  pass  Beverly  before 
we  arrived,  and  thus  escape  the  trap  set  for  them  by  a  passage 
through  Cheat  Mountain  Gap.  We  entered  the  rebel  camp  and 
found  a  large  number  of  tents,  a  lot  of  flour,  camp  equipage  and 
clothing,  and  several  sick  and  wounded,  with  a  note,  asking  us  to 
give  them  proper  attention.  The  whole  road,  for  twenty  miles,  was 
strewn  with  baggage  thrown  from  their  wagons  to  hasten  their  retreat. 
Finding  escape  impossible  they  concluded  to  give  us  battle  at  a 
town  called  St.  George. 

The  important  moment  had  now  come ;  and  immediately  our  men 
were  formed  into  battalions  and  marched  forward  under  their  re- 
spective leaders.  As  the  word  to  forward  passed  along  the  lines 
my  heart  sank  within  me — not  so  much  through  fear  for  myself,  as 
for  him  I  loved — and  I  was  scarcely  able  to  stand. 

"  Courage,  Albert  I"  said  Frank,  touching  me  on  the  shoulder. 
"  Courage,  gallant  comrade  !  for  we  are  bound  for  victory." 

"  Or  death,"  I  added,  shudderingly. 

"True,"  he  said,  mournfully,  "  it  may  be  death.  Ih  is  a  solemn 
thought ;  but  then  we  know  that  we  must  die  some  time,  and  it  is 
certainly  glorious  to  die  in  defence  of  our  liberties,  the  Constitution 
and  the  Union." 


»% 


22  The  Enemy  in  Sight. — The  Battle  Begun. 

"  And  have  you  no  regrets,"  I  asked  in  tonea  tremulous  with 
emotion,  "  at  dying  thus  afar  from  kindred,  friends  and  home,  with- 
out a  word  for  those  you  leave  behind  you — for  her,  who,  should 
she  survive  you,  would  drag  out  a  dreary  existence  with  but  the  one 
hope  left,  that,  when  her  spirit  should  leave  this  form  of  clay,  she 
might  join  you  in  the  realms  of  bliss  above,  and  there  find  the 
happiness  denied  her  when  on  earth  ?" 

"Ah,  yes,"  he  sighed.  "  Madeline  !  poor,  dear  Madeline  !  what 
would  be  her  feelings  to  hear  of  such  a  fate  for  me  ?  But  come  ! 
this  is  not  the  time  or  place  for  such  things.  Yet  I  cannot  quit  the 
subject  without  making  this  solemn  request,  that  if  I  fall,  and  you 
survive  and  escape,  you  will  bear  to  her  the  solemn  tidings  and  say 
I  breathed  my  last  with  her  sweet  name  upon  my  lips." 

I  pressed  his  hand  and  promised ;  and  brushing  a  tear  from  his 
eye,  he  turned  hastily  away  to  attend  to  his  duties. 

This  conversation  occurred  while  we  were  standing  idle,  awaiting 
the  order  to  march ;  and  we  had  scarcely  finished  when  the  order 
was  given,  and  each  took  his  post  and  the  battalion  was  put  in  mo- 
tion. The  town  was  about  half  a  mile  from  where  we  stood,  and 
toward  this  we  moved  with  military  precision,  enveloped  in  darkness, 
for  it  yet  wanted  some  two  or  three  hours  of  daylight.  We  had 
marched  only  about  half  way  to  the  town,  when  we  were  challenged 
by  the  sentinels  on  duty  with —  ^ 

"  Halt !  who  goes  there  ?     Who  goes  there?"  ^ 

"  Friends  !"  replied  the  gallant  leader  of  our  battalion. 
"Advance, — friends, — and  give  the  countersign." 
"  Column,  forward  !"  cried  our  leader;  and  away  we  rushed  after 
the  flying  sentinels. 

Presently  we  found  ourselves  before  the  enemy  who  occupied  one 
side  of  the  grand  square,  a  large  warehouse  being  on  the  opposite 
side,  on  the  right  a  large  church,  and  on  the  left  a  long,  low,  black-, 
looking  building,  all  of  which  were  filled  with  rebel  soldiers,  who 
immediately  opened  upon  us  a  sharp  fire,  which  was  done  also  from 
the  neighboring  buildings.  The  battalion  to  which  1  belonged  was 
now  placed  in  a  very  perilous  situation — our  position  being  in  the 
square,  exposed  to  a  raking  fire,  poured  in  upon  us  from  three  di- 
rections by  concealed  enemies.  But  somehow,  the  moment  the  action 
began,  I  no  longer  had  any  fear.  While  giving  orders  to  my  men 
a  ball  whizzed  close  past  my  face  and  lodged  in  the  brain  of  the 
eergeant,  who  stood  a  little  behind  me.  The  next  instant  there  came 
another  and  cut  down  the  first  lieutenant;  and  Frank,  our  captain, 
received  a  third  in  his  shoulder.  At  first  he  thought  himself  danger- 
ously wounded,  and  under  this  impression  exclaimed : — 
"  Soldiers,  your  leader  is  killed — avenge  his  death !" 
With  a  shriek  of  agony  I  rushed  to  his  side,  exclaiming : — 
Where  are  you  wounded,  dear  Frank  ? — tell  me  for  heaven's  sake, 
that  I  may  staunch  the  blood." 


"My  captor  ttfll  held  me  a  prisoner  with  both  my  hands  pinioned  behind  me.  The  next  mo- 
mpjit  the  deer  was  hastily  unbolted,  and,  to  my  great  delight,  I  beheld  a  beautiful  lady  standing 
before  me,  with  a  Bilvcr  lamp  in  ono  of  her  bauds,  the  fin{;ert  of  which  were  loaded  with 
iiainond  rings." — Pages  26  and  27. 


Frank  Slightly  Wounded. — Albert's  Terrible  Fright.  25 

"I  was  mistaken,"  he  replied — "I  find  now  that  it  was  onlv  a 
scratch." 

"  Thank  God  !"  I  ejaculated,  fervently. 

The  order  was  now  given  to  charge  and  drive  the  rebels  from  their 
position  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet.  From  that  moment  I  lost  all 
consciousness ;  for  I  remember  starting  up  at  last  as  if  awakened 
by  some  horrible  dream,  and  bearing  a  continual  discharge  of 
musketry  I  looked  around  for  my  friends,  but  they  were  nowhere  to 
be  seen.  I  felt  something  trickling  down  my  face  ;  and  putting  my 
hand  to  my  head  discovered  it  preceded  from  a  wound  on  my  right 
temple,  which  was  bleeding  profusely.  Taking  out  ray  handkerchief 
J  bound  it  around  the  injured  place  as  well  as  I  was  able,  and  in  a 
short  time  had  the  satisfaction  of  finding  that  the  blood  flowed  less 
freely.  To  increase  my  gratification  I  now  began  to  feel  my  strength 
returning ;  and  I  resolved  to  move  away  and  get  out  of  danger  till 
the  fight  was  over — more  especially  as  I  could  do  nothing  to  assist 
my  friends — and  the  balls  from  the  concealed  enemy  occasionally 
came  whizzing  past  in  rather  too  close  proximity  to  where  I  Stood 
to  render  my  position  either  safe  or  agreeable.  Accordingly  I 
steadied  myself  upright  and  walked  slowly  away,  and  soon  found 
myself  out  of  the  square  in  a  large  open  street,  which  was  not  lighted 
save  by  the  stars  that  brightly  twinkled  in  the  far  off  heavens  as 
though  they  were  looking  down  upon  a  scene  of  peace  and  quietness 
rather  than  on  one  of  blood  and  carnage.  As  I  gained  the  further 
sidewalk  of  this  street  I  heard  the  heavy  tramp  of  iron  heels  on  the 
pavement,  and  espied,  far  down  it,  by  the  faint  light  of  the  stars, 
a  party  of  rebel  soldiers  approaching ;  I  saw  they  must  pass  close 
to  where  I  stood,  and  I  looked  hurriedly  around  to  see  if  there  was 
not  some  way  of  avoiding  them ;  for  I  knew  if  they  found  me  I 
should  be  murdered  in  cold  blood.  To  my  horror  I  saw  that  there 
was  no  chance  for  escape  unless  I  could  reach  an  alley  about  half 
way  between  me  and  them,  or  recross  the  street,  neither  of  which 
in  my  weak  state  I  was  able  to  do  in  time. 

Oa,  on  they  came — tramp,  tramp,  tramp — and  I  began  to  think 
my  time  had  really  come,  Avhen  suddenly  they  were  assailed  by  a 
party  of  our  own  men  ;  and  the  clashing  of  sabres,  the  rattle  of 
musketry,  the  yells,  screeches,  shouts  and  groans  that  followed, 
made  a  fearful  din  from  which  I  heartily  pray  to  be  delivered  in 
future.  But  I  was  not  safe  even  now ;  for  the  two  parties  in  their 
rencontre  moved  gradually  up  the  street ;  and  I  saw  that  unless  I 
could  get  away,  I  should  be  involved  in  the  skirmish  wherein  it  was 
more  than  probable  I  should  be  killed.  Knowing  I  must  do  some- 
thing if  I  would  save  my  life,  I  turned  back  up  the  street  and  set 
off  at  a  feeble  pace.  But  I  had  scarcely  gone  half  a  dozen  steps, 
when,  to  my  horror,  I  saAv  a  small  party  of  rebels  coming  directly 
towards  me,  doubtless  going  to  the  relief  of  their  comrades.     They 


26  Albert  Seized  by  an  Old  Rebel  as  Prisoner. 

had  moved  forward  but  a  short  distance  towards  me  when  they  were 
set  upon  by  a  party  of  our  men,  who  immediately  surrounded  them 
»nd  cut  them  to  pieces,  not  a  single  man  of  them  escaping.  It  was 
just  at  this  juncture  that  I  was  about  calling  to  some  of  my  comrades 
to  come  to  my  relief,  when  I  felt  myself  suddenly  seized  from  be- 
hind and  dragged  within  an  open  doorway  which  was  immediately 
'<■  closed.  This  wonderful  feat  was  performed  by  a  courageous  old 
rebel,  who,  afraid  to  venture  into  the  street  for  fear  of  getting  more 
lead  into  his  head  than  brains,  espying  me,  and  thinking  he  must 
perform  something  for  the  good  of  his  country,  made  bold  to  do 
that  which  I  have  just  recorded. 

Truly,  such  noble  acts  are  worthy  of  knighthood ;  and  it  is  m^ 
opinion  he  ought  to  make  a  journey  to  Richmond  and  personally 
report  his  valorous  doings  to  Jeflf.  Davis.  "Why  he  did  not  dispatch 
xne  on  the  spot  is  more  than  I  can  say,  unless  the  idea  may  have 
occurred  to  him  that,  I  being  weak,  and  he  being  strong,  he  could 
easily  master  me  and  exhibit  me  afterwards  as  a  captive  he  had  taken 
in  battle.  But,  setting  aside  the  cause,  it  is  enough  for  me  to  state 
the  facts  in  the  order  they  occurred. 

The  moment  the  door  was  closed  I  found  myself  in  some  dark 
place  where  I  could  not  see  a  single  object,  and  my  captor  still  held 
me  fast  with  both  hands  pinioned  behind  me  in  his  rude  grasp.  I 
made  no  efforts  to  get  away,  for  I  knew  it  was  useless,  and  I  did 
not  swoon  for  the  same  reason.  I  believed  I  was  about  to  be  mur- 
dered ;  and  thinking  nothing  I  could  do  would  alter  my  fate,  1 
resolved  to  be  as  firm  and  stoical  as  possible  and  so  await  my  doom. 
Finding  that  I  made  no  resistance,  my  captor  felt  a  little  more 
at  ease,  and  demanded  my  arms ;  I  answered  that  he  was  at  liberty 
to  take  them,  but  I  hoped  he  would  be  generous  enough  to  spare  my 

life.     He  rolled  out  a  volley  of  oaths  about  the  "d d  piratical 

abolitionists,"  as  he  termed  us<;  and  having  bound  my  hands  behind 
me  with  a  cord  he  had  provided  for  the  purpose,  and  taken  all  my 
weapons,  he  very  courageously  told  me  that  if  I  made  the.  least 
resistance  he  would  shoot  me  on  the  spot. 

Resistance !  I  well  remember  how  ridiculous  the  idea  appeared 
to  me  at  the  time ;  and  notwithstanding  all  my  sufferings,  I  do 
believe  a  mirror  placed  before  mo  then  would  have  shown  an  ironical 
smile  on  my  countenance.  Talking  of  resistance  to  a  person  in  my 
situation,  unarmed,  with  both  hands  bound  behind  me,  and  scarcely 
able  to  support  myself  on  my  legs  without  assistance  !  it  was  absurd 
in  the  extreme.  But  then,  to  give  the  devil  his  due,  we  may  pre- 
mise that  Mr.  John  Randolph  Jones,  a  scion  of  one  of  the  first 
families  of  Virginia,  as  my  worthy  captor  termed  himself,  did  not 
know  my  real  strength  and  wished  to  be  secure  against  disagreeable 
surprise.  Poor,  cowardly  old  fool  !  who  can  blame  him  for  not 
wishing  to  be  snatched  away  with  all  his  load  of  sins  upon  his  head ! 
But  to  the  sequel :— 


Albert's  Anxiety  Relieved. — An  Agreeable  Surprise.  27 

'As  soon  as  he  believed  all  safe  he  forced  me  along  through  the 
dark  passage,  by  taking  hold  of  my  arms  from  behind,  until  he  came 
to  a  door  opening  to  the  right,  through  ■vrhich  he  thrust  me  and  then 
shut  and  bolted  it.  Into  what  kind  of  place  I  had  been  cast  I  could 
form  no  idea,  for  it  was  as  dark  as  the  passage.  I  had  not  long  to 
Trait  in  conjecture,  however ;  for  presently  I  heard  the  old  rebel's 
voice  in  expostulation  with  one  in  a  sharper  key,  which  I  rightly 
conjectured  to  be  a  lady's  voice,  and  that  of  his  own  wife.  The 
next  moment  the  door  was  hastily  unbolted  and  thrown  open,  and  to 
my  great  delight  I  beheld  a  beautiful  lady,  in  the  prime  of  life,  with 
large,  lustrous,  black  eyes,  dressed  in  white,  standing  before  me, 
"with  a  silver  lamp  in  one  of  her  soft  white  hands,  the  fingers  of 
which  were  loaded  with  diamond  rings,  which,  glittering  in  the  light, 
threw  out  all  the  colors  of  the  rainbow  and  set  them  oflf  in  dazzling 
splendor.  A  massive  bracelet  was  on  her  arm,  also  studded  with 
diamonds  ;  costly  jewels  pendent  from  her  ears  ;  and  on  her  breast, 
fastened  to  white  lace  that  only  half  concealed  her  snowy  bosom, 
was  a  large,  beautiful  brooch.  I  beheld  her,  I  say,  with  delight ; 
for  in  her  open  countenance,  forcibly  contrasted  with  the  pinched, 
avaricious,  coAvardly  and  sinister  one  of  her  husband,  was  a  look  of 
compassionate  benevolence  that  left  me  little  to  fear. 

On  beholding  me,  apparently  a  mere  youth,  (for  my  whiskers  and 
moustache  had  fallen  off  during  the  fight,)  all  bloody  and  ghastly 
pale,  she  started,  turned  sharply  upon  her  husband  and  said  some- 
thing which  I  did  not  understand.  In  a  moment  I  saw  who  com- 
manded in  the  house,  and  felt  easy  on  the  score  of  safety,  for  the 
old  man  looked  wofully  cre'^t-fallen,  and  slunk  away  like  a  whipped 
hound ;  whilst  the  lady,  advanciag  to  me  with  an  anxious  counte- 
nance, at  once  placed  her  hand  gently  on  my  head,  and  in  the 
sweetest  voice  I  ever  heard,  or  at  least  it  seemed  so  to  me  then,  from 
its  contrast  with  the  rough  tones  that  had  of  late  been  familiar  to 
my  ears,  asked  in  beautiful  English,  with  a  very  slight  foreign  accent, 
if  I  were  much  hurt. 

If  from  a  world  of  misery — an  earthly  abyss  of  woe — I  had  been 
suddenly  transported  to  Paradise,  I  doubt  me  if  the  joys  I  should 
experience,  could  much  exceed  the  delight  I  felt  in  hearing  that 
kind'  inquiry  addressed  to  me,  after  the  thrilling  and  terrible  events 
through  which  I  had  passed. 

In  reply  to  my  kind  and  beautiful  hostess  I  said  that  I  had  re- 
ceived a  slight,  but  not  dangerous  wound,  though  I  felt  weak  and 
faint  from  loss  of  blood  and  other  causes. 

"  My  husband  will  soon  be  here  with  bandages  and  liniment," 
she  rejoinad ;  "  for  I  made  him  go  in  place  of  the  servant  to  shame 
him  a  little  for  his  brutal  conduct  towards  such  a  sweet,  innocent- 
looking  youth  as  you — though  doubtless,  when  you  grow  up,  you 
irill  be  like  the  rest  of  your  sex,  full  of  deceit.    But,  heavens !  you 


28   The  Wounds  Dressed. — Conversation  about  the  War. 

are  bound  !  I  did  not  notice  it  before.  Oh,  the  old  monster  !  but 
he  shall  dearly  pay  for  this ;"  and  she  proceeded  to  cut  the  cords 
which  bound  me  ■with  a  small  poignard  she  carried  concealed  in  her 
dress. 

I  thanked  her  warmly  for  her  consoling  words  and  acts  to  a 
wounded  stranger,  and  it  was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  I  could 
restrain  myself  from  throwing  my  arms  around  her  neck.  I  belieye 
I  should  have  done  so,  had  I  not  fortunately  recollected  in  time  to 
prevent  so  imprudent  an  act,  that  I  was  dressed  in  male  attire,  and 
looked  upon  as  one  of  the  sex  I  represented — though  I  doubt,  even 
under  the  circumstances,  that  I  should  have  had  a  very  severe  re- 
proof had  I  obeyed  the  impulse  of  the  moment.  As  it  was,  however, 
I  did  nothing  more  than  thank  her  and  weep. 

Presently  her  husband  returned,  bringing  the  bandages  and  lini- 
ment ;  and  after  giving  him  another  severe  reprimand,  and  sending 
him  away,  my  fair  and  tender  hostess  set  about  dressing  my  wounds, 
which  in  the  course  of  half  an  hour  she  had  completed,  by  which 
time  I  knew  her  whole  history,  or  as  much  of  it  as  was  necessary 
for  me  to  understand  her. 

She  was  born  on  the  isle  of  Cuba,  but  received  the  greater  part 
of  her  education  in  the  United  States,  where  she  married.  Her 
father  was  the  son  of  a  rich  Spanish  nobleman,  who,  having  incurred 
the  displeasure  of  his  father  by  marrying  one  inferior  to  him  in 
aristocratic  station,  was  discarded  and  sent  away  with  a  few  hundred 
dollars  only  to  begin  the  world  with.  He  went  to  Cuba,  engaged 
in  mercantile  business,  and  so  well  prospered  that  he  was  able  to 
bring  up  his  family  in  good  style,  thougn  he  was  never  what  might 
be  termed  rich.  But  the  husband  of  my  informant  was  wealthy ; 
and  for  this,  and  for  this  only,  she  had  married  him.  He  idolized 
her,  and  she  hated  and  dispised  him,  and  thus  they  lived  together, 
as  many  men  and  their  wives  do,  the  latter  being  ^'■masters,"  and 
having  their  o^vn  way  in  every  thing. 

Such  was  an  outline  of  her  history ;  and  in  return  for  this  confi- 
dence she  Avished  to  know  mine.  I  was  obliged,  of  course,  to  tell 
some  fictitious  story,  though  I  had  a  great  mind  to  avow  the  whole 
truth,  only  that  I  feared  if  she  found  I  was  of  her  own  sex  her 
interest  in  me  might  in  a  great  measure  cease,  for  I  fancied,  from 
many  little  things  I  had  noted,  that  she  was  in  a  fair  way  to  fall  in 
-k)ve  with  me. 

"Well,"  she  asked,  when  I  had  done,  "what  do  you  think  will 
be  the  result  of  this  unnatural  war  in  which  we  are  engaged?" 

"  First,  a  suppression  of  this  iniquitous  rebellion  ;  then  a  resto- 
ration of  the  Union  and  re-estabiishment  of  the  authority  of  the 
Constitution  in  its  original  integrity  throughout  the  land,  I  hope," 
I  replied. 

"  So  hope  I,"  she  answered,  sadly,  "  or  rather  so  would  I  hope, 
only  that  I  know  it  is  in  vain ;  for  you  can  ne^'er  subdue  the  South." 


Albert  Desires  to  be  Released. — A  Precarious  Situation.  29 

"  But  the  citizens  "will  join  our  standard  and  swell  our  column  as 
"vre  advance,"  I  said. 

"  You  are  mistaken,"  she  answered.  "  Doubtless  there  are  enough 
who  would  do  so,  only  that  they  hold  property  and  fear  a  failure, 
which  would  confiscate  the  same,  and  hang  them  or  drive  them  into 
exile.  No,  no  ;  I  understand  these  things  better  than  you  do^for 
I  have  noted  political  affairs  closely — afid  know  that,  so  long  as  the 
Administration  at  Washington  is  ruled  by  the  partizan  press  of  the 
North,  and  your  most  able  commanders  are  annoyed  a,nd  hampered 
by  the  advice  and  criticisms  of  petty  politicians — 

"Who  never  set  a  squadron  in  the  field, 
Nor  the  division  of  a  battle  know 
More  than  a  spinster," 

your  army  will  never  gain  any  permanent  advantage,  and  a  signal 
defeat  of  your  arms  will  yet  be  the  result." 

Alas  i  how  prophetic  were  these  words  :  but  I  must  not  anticipate. 

In  conversation  like  this  the  time  was  whiled  away  much  faster 
than  I  had  any  idea  of;  and  before  I  thought  it  possible,  knowing 
the  hour  of  night  when  our  attack  was  to  be  made,  daylight  appeared. 

My  hostess  was  very  fascinating  and  kept  me  busily  engaged  in 
conversation ;  but  notwithstanding  this  I  could  not  help  thinking 
what  might  be  the  fate  of  poor  Frank.  The  roar  of  battle  still 
continued  as  fiercely  as  ever,  and  I  began  to  grow  very  uneasy  lest 
victory  should  be  decided  against  us. 

My  wound  being  carefully  dressed,  and  some  restorative  cordial 
having  been  administered  to  the  inner  person,  I  felt  greatly  revived 
and  felt  myself  strong  enough  to  go  forth  in  search  of  my  poor 
frank ;  but  my  hostess  would  not  hear  a  word  of  this,  but  declared 
I  was  a  lawful  prisoner  of  war,  and  as  such  she  should  hold  me  until 
peace  was  established. 

"But,"  said  I,  "I  have  a  very  dear  friend,  whose  safety  1"  am 
anxious  to  look  after :  and  surely  you  will  not  detain  me  against 
my  will?" 

"Indeed,  I  must  then,"  she  replied;  "for  to  set  you  at  liberty 
now  would  be  to  allow  you  to  rush  upon  certain  death.  Ha !  what 
is  that?"  she  suddenly  exclaimed,  as  a  thundering  clatter  sounding 
like  the  tearing  down  of  a  building  came  to  our  ears.  "  Come,  let 
us  see,"  and  taking^ me  by  the  hand,  she  hurriedly  led  me  to  the  top 
of  the  house,  the  roof  of  which  was  flat  and  surrounded  by  a  high 
parapet  of  brick,  through  which  were  pierced  loop-holes  to  enable 
a  person  on  top  to  look  out  and  see  what  was  going  on  below  with 
but  little  danger  of  being  injured. 

Looking  through  one  of  these,  I  saw  to  my  great  delight  that  the 
Kentucky  battalion  still  maintained  their  ground,  assisted  by  the 
gallant  Ohio  and  Indiana  volunteers.  A  few  poor  fellows  lay  dead 
in  the  square,  but  notwithstanding  they  fought  against  great  odds, 


so   The  Shout  of  Victory. — Terrible  Death  of  his  Hostess. 

their  ranks  had  been  thinned  less  than  I  should  have  thought  possi- 
ble.  The  firing  still  continued  on  both  sides ;  but  the  clattering 
noise  we  had  heard  was  caused  hj  a  part  of  the  troops  attempting 
to  beat  in  the  door  of  the  church,  before  mentioned ;  and  while  we 
were  still  watching  them  another  rush  was  made  against  the  door, 
and  it  gave  way ;  but  instead  of  allowing  our  men  to  rush  in  the 
cowardly  rebels  rushed  out,  threw  down  their  arms,  and  surrendered 
themselves  prisoners  of  war. 

Then  it  was,  dear  reader,  you  should  have  heard  the  welkin  ring 
with  the  shouts  of  the  victors,  as  I  did.  Oh !  situated  as  I  was,  it 
would  have  done  your  heart  good ;  forgetful  of  every  thing,  and 
catching  the  wild  enthusiasm  of  the  moment,  I  shouted,  too,  at  the 
Yery  top  of  my  voice. 

But,  merciful  heavens !  my  shout  of  triumph  was  changed  to  a 
yell  of  horror  and  consternation,  as  at  that  moment  a  ball,  gped  by 
the  hand  of  an  accursed  rebel,  laid  my  fair  hostess  dead  at  ray  feet, 
her  white  dress  and  snowy  bosom  all  crimsoned  with  her  life-blood. 
Mechanically  I  turned  in  the  direction  from  whence  the  fatal  bullet 
came,  and  beheld  the  author  of  this  horrible  tragedy  looking  from 
the  parapet  of  a  neighboring  house,  which,  standing  on  a  slight 
eminence,  overlooked  the  spot  where  I  stood.  The  villain,  hearing 
my  triumphant  shout  of  victory,  and  seeing  by  my  dress  that  I 
belonged  to  the  victorious  army,  doubtless  thought  it  a  good  oppor- 
tunity to  wreak  revenge  upon  me  for  the  loss  of  the  battle,  but 
missed  his  mark  and  killed  an  innocent  lady. 

For  a  moment  or  two  horror  held  me  motionless  ;  then  I  turned 
to  fly  whilst  I  had  an  opportunity ;  but  at  the  head  of  the  stairs  I 
encountered  the  lady's  husband  coming  up,  to  whom  I  hurriedly 
narrated  what  had  transpired.  He  uttered  a  cry  of  anguish  and 
reeled  aghast,  clinging  to  the  railing  for  support.  For  a  moment 
he  stood  speechless  and  motionless ;  suddenly  he  uttered  a  yell  of 
hellish  fury,  clasping  me  in  his  arms  with  a  grasp  and  look  of  a 
madman,  he  shouted : — 

"You  did  it!     You  shall  die.!" 

In  vain  I  struggled  to  free  myself  from  his  grasp.  Lifting  me 
as  if  I  were  but  a  child,  he  held  me  at  arm's  length  above  his  head 
and  rushed  forward ;  and  then,  horror  of  horrors !  I  comprehended 
his  diabolical  intention  to  cast  me  over  the  par,apet  and  dash  my 
brains  out  upon  the  pavement  below.  I  screamed  and  struggled, 
but  all  in  vain ;  he  still  held  me  firm ;  but  just  as  he  was  about  to 
make  the  fatal  heave,  his  foot  slipping  in  a  puddle  of  his  wife's 
blood,  he  fell  forward,  and  struck  heavily  against  the  wall ;  his  grasp 
became  loosened,  and  knowing  that  it  was  either  his  life  or  mine,  I 
made  a  desperate  effort,  and  before  he  could  recover  himself,  I 
grasped  a  large  knife,  the  handle  of  which  was  protruding  in  sight, 


"  Nobly  the  mettled  animal  answered  to  my  call,   for  with  a  single  bound  ha 
o'erleaped  the  barricade  and  lit  on  the  other  side." — Page  3& 


Joyous  Meeting  of  Albert  and  Frank  after  the  Battle.  33 

and  buried  it  to  the  .hilt  in  his  heart  I  With  a  cry  of  disappointed 
rac^e  and  agony  he  fell  dead  beside  his  wife.  I  now  fled  in  horror 
down  the  stairs  and  into  the  street,  and  across  the*  street  into  the 
square,  feeling  for  the  moment  as  if  the  curse  of  Cain  was  on  me, 
and  that  I  should  ever  after  be  branded  as  a  murderer,  although  I 
well  knew  I  had-  acted  in  self-defence. 

The  first  thino-  that  attracted  my  attention  when  I  entered  the 
square  was  Frank  Ashton  in  the  act  of  hoisting  the  stars  and  stripes 
over  the  rebel  flag ;  and  as  it  unfolded  itself  to  the  breeze,  a  long, 
loud  and  wild  shout  of  triumph  rent  the  air ;  and  there  upon  the 
battle  field,  amid  the  dead  and  dying,  the  sound  of  martial  music 
and  the  roar  of  cannon,  I  knelt  and  prayed  silently,  but  oh!  how 
earnestly,  that  the  time  might  soon  come,  wjien  that  beautiful  banner 
with  its  broad  stripes  and  bright  stars  untarnished  and  undimmed, 
mio-ht  Avave  in  triumph  throughout  the  broad  expanse  of  our  beloved 
land,  giving  the  world  assurance  of  a  people's  valor  and  a  nation's 
glory,  bought  and  hallowed  by  our  soldiers'  blood  in  the  cause  of 
freedom  ! 

When  Frank  had  accomplished  his  task,  he  turned,  and  seeing  me 
kneeling  upon  the  ground,  and  supposing  that  I  was  badly  wounded, 
he  ran  to  me,  and  clasping  me  in  his  arms,  said : 

"  Albert,  is — is  it  indeed  you  ?  Thank  heaven,  you  are  safe  !  I 
heard  you  had  fallen  in  the  first  of  the  fight  and  thought  you  were 
killed."  He  pressed  my  hand,  and  earnestly  looking  at  me,  while 
tears  of  gratitude  filled  his  eyes,  he  said : 

"  Oh,  more  than  ever,  Albert,  do  you  resemble  my  dear,  dear 
Madeline  !     Oh  !  would  to  heaven  I  were  with  her  !" 

"  She  is  before  you,  dearest  Frank,"  was  just  trembling  on  my 
lips,  when  I  recollected  myself  in  time  to  prevent  making  my  im- 
portant secret  known. 

"Yes,"  he  continued,  looking  at  me  more  closely  than  ever, 
"  since  you  have  shaved  off  your  whiskers  and  moustache  you  look 
more  and  more  like  one  far  away ;  but  then  I  know  you  are  her 
cousin,  and  that  I  suppose  must  account  for  it.  Yet,  how  have  you 
found  time  to  make  your  toilet  ?  And  where  could  you  have  done 
it  in  the  heat  of  battle  ?" 

I  know  I  blushed  deeply  at  this,  for  I  felt  the  hot  blood  mount  to 
my  temples;  but  I  answered  as  coolly  and  with  as  much  self- 
possession  as  possible,  and  told  him  how  in  the  early  part  of  the 
engagement  I  had  been  wounded  and  taken  prisoner,  and  that,  ray 
face  being  much  stained  with  blood,  1  had  decided  on  removing  all 
superfluous  appendages.  I  then  went  on  to  give  him  a  brief  account 
of  what  had  happened  up  to  the  death  of  my  fair  protectress — the 
assault  upon  me  by  her  husband — the  final  tragedy — and  my  escape. 

"  The  cowardly  old  villain !"  cried  Frank,  alluding  to  the  old 
rebel,  "  you  served  him  right !  But  you  must  pardon  me  for  not 
asking  after  your  wounds  sooner,  for  I  saw  your  head  bandaged. 


34  Frank  A  Bearer  op  Despatches.-Albert  to  Accompany  Him. 

but  you  looked  so  well  otherwise  that  other  thoughts  put  the  querj 
out  of  my  mind." 

"  It  is  but  a  mere  scratch,"  I  replied,  "so  slight  in  fact  that  I 
had  myself  forgotten  it." 

We  were  bc^th  now  called  upon  to  superintend  the  burial  of  the 
dead  and  the  removal  of  the  wounded  to  the  hospital,  and  did  not 
meet  again  until  evening. 

Just  about  sunset  I  was  seated  upon  a  camp-stool  in  front  of  the 
house  where  Frank  and  myself  were  quartered,  ruminating  upon 
the  events  of  the  day,  when  I  saw  Frank  coming  up  the  street.  I 
knew  that  he  was  the  bearer  of  pleasant  news,  for  joy  was  depicted 
in  every  feature  of  his  countenance. 

"Albert,  my  dear  fellow,"  he  joyously  cried,  "  congratulate  me ; 
I  am  to  be  the  bearer  of  despatches  from  Gen.  McClellan  to  head- 
quarters at  Washington,  and  at  my  solicitation  you  are  to  accompany 
me.  After  we  have  delivered  our  despatches  we  have  a  furlough  for 
two  weeks.  We  start  in  a  few  hours,  so  we  will  have  to  hasten  our 
preparations." 

We  reached  Washington  in  due  time  without  meeting  with  any 
adventures  that  would  be  interesting  to  the  reader.  After  delivering 
our  despatches  we  took  rooms  at  Willard's  Hotel.  But  we  had 
scarcely  made  ourselves  comfortable  when  the  rumor  reached  us 
that  the  Grand  Army  was  about  to  commence  its  march  towards 
Richmond.  No  sooner  did  Frank  learn  the  truth  of  this  report 
than  he  determined  to  volunteer  in  this  expedition.  I  tried  hard  to 
dissuade  him  from  carrying  out  his  determination,  but  finding  my 
efforts  fruitless,  I  made  the  best  of  it  and  resolved  to  accompany 
him,  and  as  we  had  been  favorably  mentioned  in  the  despatches  we 
were  accepted  into'a  New  York  regiment — Frank  as  first  and  I  as 
second  lieutenant. 

The  advance  of  the  Union  Army  into  Virginia  was  a  stupendous 
and  well  planned  undertaking.  The  troops  moved  as  far  as  Alexan- 
dria without  much  difiiculty,  the  gallant  Fire  Zuaves  having  cleared 
the  way.  The  centre  column  advanced  from  Georgetown,  the  right 
flank  being  protected  by  General  Tyler.  Colonel  Miles'  division 
was  on  the  left  of  the  centre,  while  on  the  extreme  left.  Colonel 
Heintzleman's  command  took  care  of  the  central  columns.  In  this 
manner  Fairfax  "  Court  House"  was  taken  on  the  17th  of  July, 
1861.  On  a  line  right  and  left  with  Fairfax  the  entire  column 
halted  and  bivouacked  during  the  night  of  Wednesday  the  17th. 
Beyond  a  false  alarm  caused  by  the  discharge  of  a  sentinel's  musket, 
which  aroused  the  entire  camp  and  placed  the  division  under  arms, 
nothing  of  any  account  occurred.  At  eight  o'clock,  A.  M.,  on  the 
18th,  we  broke  camp  and  proceeded  to  Centreville.  Our  march  to 
this  spot  was  difficult  and  dangerous.  The  pioneers  worked  like 
beavers ;  the  roads  were  barricaded  to  such  an  extent  that  we  had 
to  cut  our  way  step  by  step.     The  road  being  straight  through  heavy 


Advance  op  the  Union  Forces  into  Virginia.  35 

Dine  woods,  we  were  compelled  to  throw  out  skirmishers  on  our  right 
and  left  to  guard  against  surprise  At  Centreville  we  remamed 
from  Thursday  morning  until  Sunday,  the  21st.  While  the  fifth 
division  was  encamped  in  the  valley,  about  halt  a  mile  from  Centre- 
ville  the  right  flank  of  the  grand  column  arrived,  and  a  portion  of 
it  under  command  of  Gen.  Tyler,  were  sent  in  advance  towards 
Bull's  Run  to  reconnoitre  the  enemy's  position  and  detect  his  batterres. 

The  skirmishers  were  scarcely  a  mile  and  a  half  from  Centreville, 
when  a  masked  battery  opened  upon  them,  killing  and  woundmg  a 
number  of  men.  The  Sixty-ninth  and  Seventy-mnth  regiments, 
both  New  York  state  militia,  came  up  to  reinforce  our  troops,  but 
arrived  too  late  to  render  any  effectual  service.  In  fact  they  did 
not  even  have  an  opportunity  to  participate  in  this  fight,  all  the 
troops  having  been  ordered  back  to  Centreville.  In  the  evening 
however  we  moved  forward  and  encamped  upon  the  battlefaeld,  the 
enemy  having  retreated  from  their  position.  With  the  exception 
of  driving  in  the  enemy's  pickets  and  the  capture  of  a  few  rebels, 
our  camp  remained  quiet  until  Sunday  morning. 

The  advance  of  the  Union  forces  into  Virginia  having  been  tele- 
graphed to  Washington,  streams  of  carriages  came  pouring  into 
Centreville,  filled  with  curiosity  seekers.  Some  of  the  visitors  had 
relatives  in  the  army,  others  went  to  see  a  battle  fought  for  the  first 
time.  Many  Congressmen  and  numerous  gentlemen  of  the  legal 
profession  and  mercantile  community  were  present. 

It  was  at  one  time  rumored  that  General  Scott  was  at  Centreville, 
and  great  enthusiasm  was  manifested  by  the  soldiers  when  they  were 
told  that  the  gallant  hero  of  a  hundred  battles  was  among  them. 
The  statement,  however,  was  false,  for  the  veteran  Commander-in- 
Chief  was  not  there. 

At  five  o'clock  on  Sunday  morning  we  received  orders  to  move 

forward.  «  ,      i         j 

The  fact  of  our  remaining  on  one  spot  for  nearly  three  days  was 
observed  by  the  enemy,  who  were  so  near  that  the  respective  pickets 
could  exchange  compliments;  and  taking  advantage  of  this  they 
endeavored  to  outflank  us  on  our  left.  To  prevent  this  Col.  Miles 
dispatched  Green's  battery  to  a  spot  about  three  mdes  from  Centre- 
ville, and  about  two  and  a  half  miles  from  Warrington  road.  Hunt  s 
battery  was  placed  on  the  left,  about  one  mile  distant  from  Lieut. 
Green.  From  this  position  the  deep  gulleys  of  the  "  Run  could 
be  plainly  seen.  At  half-past  seven,  precisely,  Lieut.  Green  ob- 
serving a  cloud  of  dust  arising,  and  cavalry  dashing  in  that  direction, 
opened  the  engagement,  saluting  the  rebels  with  a  greeting  from  his 
guns.  Lieut.  Hunt  followed  his  example,  and  both  batteries  kept 
pouring  in  shot  for  four  consecutive  hours.  The  rebels  replied  with 
grape  and  canister,  which  was  duly  appreciated  and  returned  with 
interest.  The  firing  now  became  general  and  the  enemy  slowly 
retreated,  followed  closely  by  our  troops.     An  assault  was  contem- 


36  Terrible  Fight.— The  Retreat.— Albbrts  Narrow  Escape. 

» 

plated,  and  three  regiments,  to  one  of  which  Frank  and  I  -were 
attached,  were  ordered  to  storm  the  battery.  We  steadily  advanced 
under  a  galling  fire  and  were  almost  in  possession  of  the  guns,  when 
a  tremendous  volley  raked  our  front,  and  we  were  compelled  to  fall 
back. 

Col.  Cameron,  of  the  Highlanders,  gallantly  led  on  his  men  to 
the  charge  ;  but  he  did  not  live  long  to  see  the  valiant  deeds  of 
those  Avhom  he  commanded  ;  for  after  discharging  his  revolver  twice, 
and  while  in  tlic  act  of  shooting  the  third  time,  a  ball  penetrated 
his  breast  and  he  fell  from  his  horse  upon  the  field. 

Our  entire  column  now  pressed  forward  and  had  actually  captured 
three  masked  batteries  when  we  heard  a  tremeudous  clattering  of 
horses'  hoofs,  and  looking  in  the  direction  from  whence  it  came,  I 
saw  the  famous  Black  Horse  regiment  charging  down  upon  us  at  a 
tremendous  pace,  mowing  down  every  thing  in  its  furious  career. 

The  agonizing  shrieks  of  the  wounded,  the  terrible  roar  of  artillery, 
and  the  snorting  of  frightened  animals,  tendered  to  strike  terror 
into  the  hearts  of  those  in  citizen's  dress,  and  becoming  alarmed 
they  took  to  their  heels,  securing  whatever  conveyance  they  could 
lay  their  hands  upon.  From  them  the  teamsters  who  had  driven 
their  wagons  further  iu  advance  than  was  necessary,  also  took  fright. 

The  road  being  too  narrow  to  turn  the  ponderous  vehicles,  in 
many  cases  the  cowardly  drivers  cut  th6  traces,  mounted  their  horses 
and  rode  oif.  The  army  wagons  rushing  down  the  road  spread  the 
panic  to  an  alarming  extent. 

It  Avould  be  impossible  for  me  to  describe  with  accuracy  the  scene 
which  followed ;  and  so  I  am  compelled  to  confine  myself  to  the 
narration  of  my  own  adventures.  Before  I  hardly  knew  what  was 
taking  place,  I  found  myself  almost  ridden  over  by  a  rebel  trooper 
— so  near  in  fact  that  the  breath  of  the  horse  came  full  in  my  face. 
There  was  no  time  for  thinking  ;  and  acting  wholly  upon  the  impulse 
of  the  moment,  I  gave  the  horse  a  cut  across  the  nose,  and  as  he 
wheeled  his  rider  made  a  cut  at  me.  I  saw  the  glistening  of  his 
sabre,  and  throwing  up  my  sword  just  in  time  warded  off  the  main 
force  of  the  blow,  though  my  guard  was  beaten  down,  and  I  was 
brought  to  my  knees  and  slightly  wounded  in  the  arm.  This  mad- 
dened more  than  hurt  me,  and  springing  to  my  feet,  I  drew  my 
revolver  and  shot  my  assailant  dead.  1  had  always  been  considered 
a  splendid  equestrian ;  and  one  of  my  favorite  amusements,  even 
when  a  little  girl,  was  riding  on  horseback.  Seeing  the  horse  at 
liberty,  it  was  but  the  work  of  a  moment  to  seize  the  fiery  animal 
by  the  bit  and  vault  upon  his  back. 

It  may  seem  rather  selfish  in  me,  but  the  truth  is — and  I  must 
admit  it — just  at  that  time  I  thought  of  little  else  than  self  preserva- 
tion ;  and  now  that  I  was  mounted,  I  determined  to  make  my  escape. 
Scarcely  however  had  I  advanced  a  dozen  steps  from  the  place  of 
mounting,  when  two  dragoons,  perceiving  me  and  separating  from 


Dangerous  Adventures. — Narrow  Escape  of  Albert.    37 

the  rest,  rode  directly  down  upon  me,  uttering  fierce  cries  of  demoniac 
delight,  both  aiming  blows  at  my  head  as  they  passed.  Throwing  up 
my  sword  for  a  guard  I  did  the  best  I  could  to  defend  myself;  I  es- 
caped one  blow  by  dodging,  which,  missing  me,  struck  my  horse 
across  the  neck,  and  gave  him  a  mortal  wound.  The  other  stroke, 
still  more  unfortunate  for  me,  beat  down  my  guard  and  cut  a  deep 
gash  in  the  back  of  my  head,  my  cap  having  fallen  off  during  the 
encounter. 

My  poor  beast  stumbled  forward  and  fell,  and  I  went  down  with 
him  half  stunned  and  bewildered  with  the  blow  I  had  received. 
This  doubtless  saved  my  life  ;  for,  thinking  me  killed,  my  assailants 
rode  swiftly  away  to  join  their  companions.  Fortunately  the  horse, 
in  falling,  went  down  on  his  knees,  which  gave  me  time  to  draw 
my  foot  from  the  stirrup  ere  he  rolled  over  on  his  side  and  expired. 
Feeling  weak  and  faint  I  now  laid  down  by  his  side  for  a  few 
minutes,  during  which  the  cries,  groans  and  yells  of  the  wounded 
and  the  roar  of  the  battle  made  me  tremble  for  the  safety  of  him  I 
loved.  But  what  could  I  do  to  aid  him  ?  Unused  to  such  rough 
scenes  I  dared  not  venture  again  into  the  heat  of  conflict,  for  I 
knew  myself  too  weak  to  cope  successfully  with  the  stern  warriors 
of  the  opposite  sex,  and  the  attempt  I  felt  satisfied  would  cost  me 
my  life. 

How  long  I  remained  by  the  horse  I  do  not  know ;  but  when  I 
raised  my  head  and  looked  around  I  saw  that  the  assailing  party, 
which  came  so  near  putting  an  end  to  me,  had  been  repulsed  by  my 
brave  comrades  with  great  loss,  and  that  our  army  was  in  full  retreat 
towards  Centreville.  I  now  raised  myself  upon  my  feet ;  but  every 
thing  swam  around  me,  and  it  was  some  time  before  I  could  stand 
without  taking  hold  of  the  carcass  of  my  poor  beast,  and  walking 
was  out  of  the  question.  Finally  I  espied  a  canteen  upon  the 
ground,  and  hoping  it  might  contain  wherewithall  to  quench  my 
thirst  I  dragged  myself  to  where'it  lay,  and  placing  it  to  my  parched 
lips  I  swallowed  about  half  its  contents,  and  with  the  remainder 
bathed  ray  throbbing  temples.  Feeling  considerably  refreshed  and 
my  strength  returning,  I  slowly  moved  after  our  retreating  forces. 

The  scenes  on  the  battle  field  beggar  description.  The  ground 
was  strewn  with  the  dead,  the  dying  and  the  wounded.  Here  lay 
one  man  with  his  leg  shot  oif,  there  another  with  a  wound  in  the 
head,  a  third  sitting,  supported  by  a  tree  at  his  back,  with  one  arm 
missing  and  the  other  dangling  at  his  side,  the  flesh  torn  and  the 
bone  shattered  by  a  musket  ball,  and  hundreds  wounded  in  all  the 
different  parts  of  the  body.  The  shrieks  of  agony  from  the  suffering 
soldiers  was  truly  heartrending ;  and  sickening  at  the  sight  I  sank 
exhausted  upon  the  ground.  As  I  lay  thus  I  espied  a  horse  and 
his  rider  coming  toward  me  at  full  speed,  the  latter  swaying  to  and 
fro  in  his  seat  as  if  from  intoxication  ;  as  he  neared  me,  with  the  sole 
idea  of  self-preservation,  I  sprang  in  front  of  him  and  threw  up  my 


38  Albert  in  Search  of  Lieutenant  Ashton. 

arms ;  the  horse  came  so  suddenly  to  a  stand  that  the  rider  was 
thrown  headlong  some  twenty  feet  beyond.  The  frightened  beast 
stood  trembling  in  his  tracks,  and  taking  him  by  the  bridle  rein 
•which  his  rider  had  dragged  over  his  horse's  head  in  falling,  I  soon 
pacified  the  alarmed  beast,  and  with  considerable  diflBculty  clambered 
into  the  saddle ;  as  I  spoke  to  him  he  bounded  forward  with  light- 
ning speed,  my  spirits  were  revived  by  the  cool  breeze  created  by 
the  motion,  and  I  felt  my  strength  returning.  I  was  never  better 
mounted  in  my  life,  and  rapidly  we  gained  upon  our  flying  forces. 
Some  distance  in  advance  I  saw  a  gun  carriage  with  four  powerful 
horses  attached,  rushing  down  a  steep  hill  at  a  tremendoug  pace. 
As  I  overtook  it  I  observed  a  poor  soldier  running  along  beside  it, 
between  the  fore  and  hind  wheels,  with  his  hand  upon  the  breech  of 
the  gun ;  several  times  I  saw  him  try  to  spring  upon  the  carriage, 
but  each  time  without  success.  At  length,  as  they  reached  the  foot 
of  the  hill,  one  of  the  wheels  ran  into  a  deep  rut  in  the  road,  the 
pQ«r  soldier  lost  his  hold,  and  falling  to  the  ground  the  hind  wheel 
of  the  gun  carriage  passed  over  his  head,  crushing  it  like  an  egg- 
shell. I  uttered  a  cry  of  horror,  and  urged  my  horse  to  redoubled 
speed  ;  as  I  turned  the  corner  of  a  fence  I  saw  before  me  an  over- 
turned provision  wagon  ;  at  the  rate  we  were  going  I  saw  in  an 
instant  that  if  we  came  in  collision  Avith  the  overturned  vehicle  the 
result  would  be  instant  death  to  both  horse  and  rider.  I  tried  to 
check  our  speed  and  to  turn  my  horse  aside,  but  all  in  vain ;  the 
maddened  beast  had  taken  tbe  bit  in  his  teeth,  and  my  efforts  to 
restrain  or  guide  him  were  entirely  fruitless ;  on,  on  we  dashed  to 
inevitable  destruction. 

When  at  home  I  had  been  accustomed  to  follow  the  chase,  and 
the  thought  presented  itself  that  the  horse  I  rode  was  perhaps  not 
a  stranger  to  the  noble  sport — happy  thought.  As  we  neared  the 
obstruction  I  raised  myself  in  the  stirrups,  tightened  my  grasp  upoir 
the  reins,  and  leaning  slightly  forward,  I  shouted  as  had  been  my 
custom  when  riding  at  a  fence  or  wall.  Nobly  the  mettled  animal 
answered  to  my  call,  for  with  a  single  bound  he  o'erleaped  the 
barricade  and  lit  on  the  other  side.  On  we  sped  as  before,  until,  all 
reeking  and  panting,  my  noble  preserver  carried  me  safely  to  the 
front  of  our  column. 

We  soon  reached  Centreville,  and  thus  ended  the  battle  of  Bull 
Run,  the  hardest  contested  and  most  sanguinary  engagement  ever 
fought  upon  the  American  continent. 

But  Frank — my  own  beloved  Frank — was  among  the  missing. 
For  some  time  I  could  find  no  one  who  could  give  me  tidings  of 
him ;  but  at  length  I  espied  one,  and  running  to  him  I  exclaimed : 

"  Where  is  Lieutenant  Ashton  ?  Have  you  seen  him  ?  Is  he 
dead  or  alive?" 

"  Good  heavens  I"  exclaimed  the  man  in  astonishment — "  I  see 
you're  alive,  though  we  all  thought  you  were  killed  certain." 


Happy  Meeting  op  the  Twain. — Frank  Carefully  Nursed.  39 

"But — Lieutenant  Ashton," — I  gasped. 

**Why — he — poor  fellow" — 

"  Speak  !  Speak  !"  I  interrupted,  wildly. 

"He's  badly  wounded,  but" — 

"He  is  alive,  then  ?  Quick  !  Quick !  Bring  me  to  him,  and  here 
is  gold  for  you,"  and  I  threw  him  down  a  half-eagle. 

"  Why,  you're  in  luck,  Lieutenant :  but  follow  me,  and  I'll  show 
you  where  he  lies ;"  and  hurriedly  passing  down  the  street  he  led 
me  to  the  building  used  as  a  hospital,  and  there  I  beheld  Frank, 
pale  as  a  corpse,  stretched  out  upon  a  rude  pallet,  and  the  surgeon 
standing  over  him  probing  a  deep  wound  in  his  side  made  by  a 
musket  ball. 

The  moment  he  behold  me  he  smiled  faintly  and  reached  out  his 
hand,  which  I  seized  and  pressed  to  my  heart,  with  what  feelings  I 
leave  the  reader  to  imagine. 

" I  am  glad  to  see  you  safe,,  Albert,"  he  said,  in  a  faint  tone; 
"glad  !  yes — oh  !  you  don't  know  how  glad  !" 

" Are  you  dangerously  hurt,  dear,  dear  Frank?"  I  broke  forth 
in  a  tremulous  voice. 

"  Speak,  Doctor,"  returned  Frank  ;  "  say  what  you  think,  do  not 
fear  to  speak  the  truth ;  for  I  am  a  man  and  a  soldier,  and  can  bear 
to  hear  it  calmly  although  it  dooms  me  to  loose  all  the  bright  things 
of  earth." 

"  It  is  a  case  requiring  great  care  and  careful  nursing ;  and  the 
latter  alone  can  save  you." 

"  Then  he  shall  be  saved,"  cried  I,  vehemently,  "  for  I  will  nurse 
him  like  a  mother." 

As  soon  as  I  could  I  had  Frank  removed  to  comfortable  apart- 
ments and  sent  for  a  special  physician,  who  attended  him  daily  until 
he  recovered  suflSciently  to  be  able  to  sit  up  and  walk,  which  was 
not  for  some  two  or  three. weeks.  I  was  constantly  by  his  side,  and 
felt  very — oh !  so  very  happy  in  being  near  him,  although  during 
all  our  close  association  he  had  not  discovered  my  secret.  One  day 
during  his  convalescence  we  took  a  stroll ;  and  sitting  upon  the 
grassy  bank  of  a  beautiful  streamlet,  margined  by  lofty  forest  trees, 
"  whose  coolest  foliage  musical  with  birds,"  sheltered  us  from  the 
heat  of  a  summer's  sun,  we  listened  to  the  rippling  murmur  of  the 
waves  and  enjoyed  the  cool  breeze  that  fanned  our  brows  and  temples. 
It  was  a  scene  calculated  to  excite  reflection,  and  we  both  became 
lost  in  reverie.     Suddenly  JFrank  looked  up  and  said : — 

"  Albert,  if  I  had  ten  thousand  dollars  I  should  be  the  happiest 
living  being." 

"  How  so  ?"  I  asked. 

"  Because  I  would  then  do  two  things  that  would  make  me  happy." 

"And  those  two  things  are  ?" — 

*'  Rewarding  you  for  the  untiring  watchfulness  and  care  you  have 
bestowed  upon  me,  and  marry  Madeline  Moore." 


40  The  Secret  Unveiled, — The  Happy  Marriage. 

"And  I  will  tell  you,"  I. replied,  "how  you  can  have  twice  tea 
thousand  dollars,  and  reward  me  without  a  cent." 

"'How?  how?  pray  tell  me  how?"  cried  Frank,  eagerly. 

"By  simply  marrying  Madeline  Moore." 

"  But  I  am  poor,  Albert,  and  it  would  never  do,"  he  sighed. 

"  But  it  will  do,  and  shall,"  I  persisted,  "  for  she  loves  you  dearly." 

"  Come,  come,  no  flattery — how  do  you  know  she  loves  me  ?  Are 
you  her  confidant  ?" 

"lam." 

"  You  surprise  me — you  never  told  me  thaft  before.  I  thought 
you  barely  knew  her,  and  that  was  all." 

"I  know  her  better  than  you  do,"  I  returned;  ."and  I  know  she 
is  a  girl  who  would  make  any  sacrifice  for  the  being  she  loves ;  and 
that  she  loves  you  truly  and  devotedly  I  pledge  you  my  honor  as  a 
soldier." 

"  If  I  could  believe  it !" 

"  You  must  and  shall  believe  it,  far  I  am  now  about  to  surprise 
you  still  more  with  the  proof.  Look  well  at  me,  dear  Frank,  and 
in  Albert  Harville — behold  Madeline  Moore!" 

Had  a  bombshell  burst  at  his  feet  he  could  not  have  been  more 
surprised  than  at  these  words.     He  started  up  fairly  aghast  and  cried  : 

"You!  you!  you — Madeline  Moore  ?" 

"  I  am,  do  you  not  know  me,  dear  Frank  ?" 

He  uttered  a  wild  cry  of  surprise  and  joy,  threw  his  arms  around 
my  neck,  and  burst  into  tears. 

Reader,  let  me  draw  a  veil  over  what  followed.  Suffice  it  to  say 
in  conclusion  that  Frank  and  I  are  now  husband  and- wife.  We 
have  returned  to  our  native  place,  and  each  is  happy  in  the  other's 
love.  

Reader,  the  foregoing  narrative  ma^  be  relied  on  as  strictly  au- 
thentic. ■  I  have  changed  nothing  but  our  names — these,  of  coursft, 
are  fictitious.  Hoping  that  you  may  be  happy  as  the  hero  and 
heroine  of  this  humble  story,  is  the  sincere  prayer  of  her  who  now 
addresses  you  for  the  first  and  last  time. — Farewell. 


The  End. 


"Nobly  the  mettled  animal  answered  to  my  call,   for  with  a  single  bound  ha 
o'crleapWd  the  barricade  aud  lit  on  the  other  side." — Page  3& 


